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Watandost in Urdu, Turkish and Farsi means "friend of the nation or country". The blog contains news and views about Pakistan and broader South West Asia that are insightful but are often not part of the headlines. It also covers major debates in Muslim societies across the world.

Obama to Muslim World: US Not at War with Islam

ANKARA- U.S. President Barack Obama officially began his two-day landmark visit to Turkey on Monday in Ankara. Here are some highlights from his first day.

President Abdullah Gül and his counterpart U.S. President Barack Obama made a gesture to each other by wearing ties that represented the color of the flag of the other’s country. Gul wore a blue tie and Obama wore a red tie.

Tight security measures have been taken in Ankara for Obama's visit. In the capital many roads on the convoy's route have been blocked and thousands of policemen from special operations teams have been deployed along the routes. Mobile phone jammers have also been activated in the area.

The lives of Ankara residents were disrupted because of massive road closures and strict security measures taken to guarantee the safety of President Obama during his stay.

Praising modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as a "man with vision, tenacity and courage who put Turkey on the path of democracy," Obama concluded quoting one of Atatürk’s most popular sayings, "Peace at home, peace in the world," in the memorial book at Atatürk's mausoleum, where he laid a wreath.

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